Ever had your car stolen?

[mark]

Yep, someone took my old truck and in a way was happy. Was getting to be a bit of a pig and only had PLPD on it so didn't really care. 6 weeks later cops recovered it about 2 blocks away in the back lot of an apartment building. Rather than calling me to walk over and get it, they had it towed to their yard, waited a week to call, then hit me up for towing and storage fees.

[Delphinus]

Been there, done that. Thought I had forgotten where I parked at the mall and wandered up and down the parking lot rows for 1/2 hour after the movie let out thinking what an idiot I was for not remembering. My buddies even laughed and drove off (although they felt bad afterwards).

Turns out whoever took it kept it as his own car. It took them 6 months to find it, and in that time the guy put major mileage on the car and crashed it and abandoned it somewhere. It took the police 6 months to id the car as mine (stellar stuff - they wouldn't let me even see the car until "they" made the determination). What was left of the car after rotting in their impound lot for so long wasn't pretty. The guy had changed the ground effects and swapped out the stereo and speakers too. Ballsy.

And don't get me started on what a pleasant experience the insurance process was.

In the end they asked me if I wanted to exercise the option to buy it back. Thinking I could maybe have a little project on my hands and restore the car, I said "sure". They said, Ok here's how it works. We'll send the car to auction. We let you know what the highest bid is. You get to place the last bid, if you want the car, outbid the highest bid. I said, no thank you.

Most people I know who have had their cars stolen have had them found sooner or later, most usually sooner. Mine and another friend of mine's stories are the most incredible that I know of (my one buddy had a 1980 Pontiac GTA of all things ripped off and it was found in Hwy1 east of here on blocks - well, what was left of it which was basically the frame, maybe the steering wheel and the windsheild. Not pretty. He was absolutely convinced it was a Pontiac dealership in town behind the theft. I kept saying, no way, BS, no way. It's a random crime dude, get over yourself. Anyhow fast forward a few years and the police inform him they caught the individual mastermind behind his and other thefts ... and it was indeed related to the dealership, well, an employee at the dealership anyhow. I couldn't believe it.)

My case was never resolved - never found the dude, no charges ever laid, etc. Just an insurance payout that didn't cover anything. That's the worst part. It's bad enough being stolen from but you get stolen from twice - once by the theif, once by your insurance company.

Best of luck to her. Sorry to hear this. I empathize with her pain/inconvenience..

[fishoholic]

Haven't had my car stolen but I have had my purse stolen out of my car. Partly my own fault for forgetting my purse in the glove box and accidentally leaving the car unlocked anyways, it sucked to find it missing.

Hope her car turns up unharmed.

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by marie

Insurance will pay off the car loan (providing she has theft insurance)

God, I hope so.

She has my vehicle now......

[spanky]

I agree, Tony, its funny how the guys that install your car stereo and alarm say it is impossible to steal yet it gets stolen from most likely the same ppl that installed it and have the address from your work order.......i always thought that was a strange coicidence

[EmilyB]

The older daughter had hers stolen up north of us. The police somehow forgot to do the APB, and the car was discovered much later by someone who knew her. The culprit (previous friend )had run the car totally out of gas on the highway and of course then there were mechanical issues with it afterwards.

Man, we only had our license plate stolen (it wasn't the EmilyB one thank God !!)

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

It'll probably show up in a few days, a little worse for wear. Or it's hidden behind a big truck three blocks from the store. Don't ask.

I have to.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by mark

Rather than calling me to walk over and get it, they had it towed to their yard, waited a week to call, then hit me up for towing and storage fees.

I'd be so ****ed off if that happened to me!

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Been there, done that. Thought I had forgotten where I parked at the mall and wandered up and down the parking lot rows for 1/2 hour after the movie let out thinking what an idiot I was for not remembering. My buddies even laughed and drove off (although they felt bad afterwards).

Turns out whoever took it kept it as his own car. It took them 6 months to find it, and in that time the guy put major mileage on the car and crashed it and abandoned it somewhere. It took the police 6 months to id the car as mine (stellar stuff - they wouldn't let me even see the car until "they" made the determination). What was left of the car after rotting in their impound lot for so long wasn't pretty. The guy had changed the ground effects and swapped out the stereo and speakers too. Ballsy.

And don't get me started on what a pleasant experience the insurance process was.

In the end they asked me if I wanted to exercise the option to buy it back. Thinking I could maybe have a little project on my hands and restore the car, I said "sure". They said, Ok here's how it works. We'll send the car to auction. We let you know what the highest bid is. You get to place the last bid, if you want the car, outbid the highest bid. I said, no thank you.

Most people I know who have had their cars stolen have had them found sooner or later, most usually sooner. Mine and another friend of mine's stories are the most incredible that I know of (my one buddy had a 1980 Pontiac GTA of all things ripped off and it was found in Hwy1 east of here on blocks - well, what was left of it which was basically the frame, maybe the steering wheel and the windsheild. Not pretty. He was absolutely convinced it was a Pontiac dealership in town behind the theft. I kept saying, no way, BS, no way. It's a random crime dude, get over yourself. Anyhow fast forward a few years and the police inform him they caught the individual mastermind behind his and other thefts ... and it was indeed related to the dealership, well, an employee at the dealership anyhow. I couldn't believe it.)

My case was never resolved - never found the dude, no charges ever laid, etc. Just an insurance payout that didn't cover anything. That's the worst part. It's bad enough being stolen from but you get stolen from twice - once by the theif, once by your insurance company.

Best of luck to her. Sorry to hear this. I empathize with her pain/inconvenience..

Wow that really sucks! I can't imagine having my car stolen, then finally found, only to be told that I have to buy back what was rightly mine in the first place!

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

It'll probably show up in a few days, a little worse for wear. Or it's hidden behind a big truck three blocks from the store. Don't ask.

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I have to.

I must admit I'm curious....

[Marlin65]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Been there, done that. Thought I had forgotten where I parked at the mall and wandered up and down the parking lot rows for 1/2 hour after the movie let out thinking what an idiot I was for not remembering.

Thats what happened to me came out and it was gone kids telling me I am dumb as I can't remember where the van was parked.
Turns out it was raining that day and someone needed a ride. They found it the same night a few blocks away.